The International Council on Active Aging Joins NDEP in Promoting Healthy Living for Older Adults Managing or Preventing Diabetes

Background

Founded in October 2001, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is dedicated to changing the way we age by uniting professionals in the retirement, assisted living, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness fields to dispel society's myths about aging. The ICAA works with NDEP to provide professionals who work with older adults resources for promoting diabetes prevention and management. The ICAA regularly shares NDEP messages and resources through a variety of print and online channels with its network of individual professionals and 9,200 organizations focused on active aging.

Additionally, the ICAA regularly includes information about NDEP in weekly newsletters and promotes NDEP public service announcements in its member publication, The Journal on Active Aging. Reaching more than 9,000 readers, the journal provides relevant research and ideas for wellness programs – a great channel for raising awareness of diabetes prevention and management.

For example, the journal featured an article written by NDEP subject matter experts focused on prevention of type 2 diabetes. The goal of the article was to educate active aging professionals about type 2 diabetes and the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program study, which showed that modest lifestyle changes such as weight loss, healthy eating, and physical activity could help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in older adults. The article promoted NDEP tools and publications including the At-Risk Weight Charts, the Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your GAME PLAN to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes booklet, and the NDEP website.

In observance of Mother’s Day (May 13) and National Women’s Health Week
(May 13-19), the NDEP is reminding
women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) about their lifelong risk for developing diabetes, usually type 2.
Women with a history of GDM have a 35 to 60 percent chance of developing diabetes in the next 10 to 20 years, and should
get tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after their baby is born. If the test results show that blood sugar (or blood glucose)
is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diabetes (also called prediabetes), they should get tested every year.
Otherwise, they should plan to get tested every 3 years. It’s also important to remember that the children of women
who had GDM may be at increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes in the future. Visit
www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/GDM for more information about steps to take to
prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes Community Action Coalition of Fulton County Rallies against Diabetes

Background

The Diabetes Community Action
Coalition of Fulton County in Atlanta, Georgia hit the streets to promote and distribute
NDEP’s messages to high-risk minority populations at worksites, free clinics, health
fairs, senior centers, the YMCA, various meetings, and neighborhood events throughout
the city of Atlanta. Formed in March 2011, the Coalition collaborates with over
90 member organizations in an effort to reduce the health and financial burden that
diabetes is placing on the county.

Additionally, the Coalition collaborated with the United Methodist Men to bring
the “Know Your Diabetes ABCs” message to African American residents
of the Pittsburgh neighborhood at a Community Forum and Rally. The Pittsburgh community
is the oldest and one of the poorest African American neighborhoods in Atlanta.
Compared to the city of Atlanta where 24% of the households live below the poverty
level,
40% of the households in this historic neighborhood live in poverty. During the
rally, the Coalition engaged residents and distributed 100 bags filled with NDEP’s
diabetes management
materials and 25 bags filled with NDEP’s
prevention materials. In addition to NDEP materials, the Atlanta Regional
Health Guide: Resources for the Uninsured was shared to address the health disparities
related to access to health care.

The Coalition continues to serve the Pittsburgh community through a partnership
with the Center for Black Women’s
Wellness through its Safety Net Clinic and Healthy Start program.

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
(NKFM) has been innovative in promoting NDEP offerings through traditional media,
such as print media and radio, and nontraditional media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Each month, the NKFM supports creative “themes” using resources and tools from NDEP
to help raise awareness about diabetes management and prevention.

Outreach and Promotions

In October 2011, the NKFM focused its promotions on Family Health Month with family-oriented
media outreach efforts. For example, the organization developed and distributed
a press release that incorporated NDEP information to promote getting healthy as
a family by eating healthy and exercising together. The theme was also promoted
in NKFM’s monthly staff newsletter.

In November 2011, the NKFM used NDEP’s resources developed in support of National
Diabetes Month. The organization distributed two press releases and several 10-,
15-, and 30-second public service announcements to communities with a high prevalence
of diabetes. In addition, the NKFM promoted NDEP’s 4 Questions You Should Ask and
More Than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes resources on Facebook and Twitter. Toward
the end November, the organization continued to promote National Diabetes Month
via social media with the theme “Eating Healthy at Thanksgiving Dinner” using NDEP’s
resources on eating healthy at family gatherings and special events.

In January, the NKFM promoted the theme “Get Healthy and Control Your Diabetes in
2012.” The organization encouraged people with and at risk for type 2 diabetes to
make a New Year’s resolution to get healthy. The NKFM also adapted NDEP messages
to create a press release promoting diabetes-related programs, classes, and activities
throughout Michigan. Social media outreach included sharing NDEP’s New Year’s Resolution
Maker on Facebook and motivating people to use the tool to set a goal for the New
Year.

Through evaluating outreach around these monthly promotional activities, the NKFM
learned that the best way to communicate NDEP offerings is to distribute a wide
variety of materials in a variety of media formats. The organization has been able
to reach a large audience by using social media, print media, and word of mouth.

In observance of
American Diabetes Association Alert Day® on Tuesday, March 27, the NDEP is raising awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes. This year, the NDEP encourages people to know their risk for developing type 2 diabetes by taking the Diabetes Risk Test, and, if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, take Just One Step toward better health with NDEP’s Just One Step online tool.

Understanding what can increase your chances of developing type 2 diabetes is an important first step. To find out if you are at risk, take the diabetes risk test at www.YourDiabetesInfo.org/alertday2012.

If you are at risk, studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by losing a small amount of weight – 5 to 7 percent (10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person) – and becoming more active. Action steps include making healthy food choices and being active at least 30 minutes, five days a week.

To help you take these small, but important steps, the NDEP’s Just One Step interactive tool can guide you in taking small steps that can help you reach your health goal. The tool will help you think about:

What step you will take to help you reach your goal (for example, walking more),

When and how often you will do it (for example, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during lunch), and

How much/how long (for example, 15 minutes each time).

The key to reaching your health goal – and sticking with it – is to set a goal and make a step-by-step plan. Making changes in how you care for your health is a matter of trying and learning. It’s important to think about what is important to you and your health, and think about the kinds of changes that you are willing and able to make.